CURIEL translates art, culture, and feminine spirit into the form of the dress—elevating without overwhelming, empowering without proclaiming—carrying Italy's subtle romance to the world.Within the salons of La Scala, the most sublime inspiration alights upon the noblest fabrics. Here, the garment’s form transcends into an extension of self.
The HERITAGE collection chronicles each era through the maison’s definitive little black dresses, weaving the narrative of four generations into a singular embodiment of love, dreams, and legacy.
Exquisite black velvet paired with off-white double-faced cashmere, the two distinct velvety textures unfold like a luxurious feast of rich fragrance, reminiscent of the collision between black and white truffles.A signature piece paying homage to the maison’s archives, it embodies the refinement and nobility evoked by the very name of truffles.
In the aftermath of World War II, Europe emerged from the constrained silhouettes of wartime menswear. Celebrating the end of the war meant celebrating women’s essence as women. Thus, the cinched-waist and flared silhouette came into vogue, becoming the defining style of the 1950s. Building on this iconic shape, Gigliola Curiel, the maison’s second-generation heir, innovated the cloud silhouette—its skirt gently hugging the legs. This creation also became a hallmark of the brand and found a permanent home in Italian museums.
Raffaella nurtured a childhood dream of becoming a physician. Even amid her immersion in the fashion world, she never abandoned her pursuit of intellectual culture. An avid globetrotter, she delights in connecting with cultural luminaries and hosting gatherings at home, earning her the moniker "Fashion Sage" from Italian media. The relaxed silhouette of ARIA embodies Raffaella’s spirit as a traveler—it represents the unhurried life attitude, the complete self-awareness and acceptance one attains after a life of intellectual pursuit and global exploration.
The legacy of CURIEL is rooted in the loving heritage passed down through mothers and daughters. Since the 1990s, Gigliola Curiel Jr., daughter of Raffaella, has taken the reins as the maison’s fourth-generation heir. Endowed with both artistic sensibility and business acumen, she pioneered a ready-to-wear concept brimming with youthful vitality and femininity. By weaving together fashion, taste, refinement and culture, she pays homage to the brand’s heritage with revitalized little black dresses, bringing forth yet another innovation.
Raffaella’s life boasts another legend: an unwavering marital love. Her husband, Gualtiero Castellini, was a renowned textile merchant and the inventor of silk-linen fabrics. She fell in love with him at 16, when he was 18. Rushing home, she told her nanny that he was the love of her life. They tied the knot when she turned 20, but the bliss was cut short by his tragic passing in a car accident when she was 37. Raffaella once said, “He was the only man I ever loved in my entire life.” The maison’s iconic heart-neck knit skirt suit symbolizes this romantic tale—a testament to their bond as soulmates.
In the late 1990s, as women began to pursue career power and political influence, another iconic collection by Raffaella rose to prominence—the skirt suit. Structured shoulders amplify a sense of authority, while the tailored lower half retains feminine allure with the maison’s signature Tubino silhouette. Its clientele includes preeminent female celebrities and dignitaries worldwide, from the Duchess of Cambridge and Margaret Thatcher to the First Ladies of Egypt and Portugal, as well as Hillary Clinton and Ivana Trump.
